Iqbal maintains lead on day two of Rashid Habib Memorial

Defending champion could only manage one under-par but still retains control

KARACHI: National golfer Shabbir Iqbal maintained his lead with a gross score of six under-par (138) as he registered one under-par (71) on day two of Bank AL Habib’s 7th Rashid D Habib Memorial National Professional Golf Championship at the Karachi Golf Club on Friday.

Iqbal, who scored five under-par (67) on day one, claimed a birdie on the first hole before hitting par on the rest of the course to finish with one under-par (71) and end with a two-day gross score of six under-par (138).

“It was a good day but not the best,” Iqbal told The Express Tribune. “I managed a birdie but no bogeys. I am looking forward to doing even better on the third day and extending my lead.”

Following Iqbal is Muhammad Munir of the Islamabad Golf Club with his gross total of four under-par (140), having bettered Iqbal’s score on day two with a four under-par (68). DHA’s Moazzam Siddique and Amjad Yousuf, Karachi Golf Club’s (KGC) Ahmed Saeed and Lahore Garrison Golf’s Matloob Ahmed are joint second with Munir.

KGC’s Muhammad Zubair was the top performer on day two, registering an impressive five under-par, while national golfer Waheed Baloch, also of KGC, could only manage a score of one under-par.

“I am hoping that the third day will be better than the first two days and I will be able to match the top golfers on the leaders board,” said Baloch.